Roman shades integrate well in a room with more than one fabric pattern

Nov 22 2010

Home decorators should choose fabric patterns that complement each other.

Choosing a selection of fabric patterns for a room causes home decorators to doubt their judgment about how much is too much.

But IdeasForHomeDecorating.com has some simple advice for finding the right balance - complement, not conflict. "Mixing fabric patterns is again less about 'right' and 'wrong' and more about training your eye and forming your own opinions," the website states. "When you mix patterns, have several which complement one another with none fighting to be the dominant pattern."

One example is to choose one large-scale pattern and balance it with two smaller designs. Using similar types of patterns - flowers, seascapes or paisleys – can offset each other in different types of fabrics for added texture.

Decorating with smaller patterns can be deceiving, because they sometimes become indistinct from a distance. Stepping away from the pattern to get the full view presents a clearer picture about how it will look to someone entering the room.

One of the patterns chosen for the room can be in the window treatment. Roman shades are available in a wide range of fabrics and prints that can be easily integrated into a room design that includes different patterns.